Your Guide to Planning Your Day During Commute

Globally, people spend an average of 40 minutes one way to commute each day, according to Worldmapper. That’s a significant amount of time spent commuting, right? Unfortunately, commuting time often feels like wasted minutes.

Commute time often feels like wasted minutes or hours spent stuck in traffic. For most, it becomes a routine of unproductivity, even though it offers a valuable opportunity to plan your day. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Instead, you can use this time to set yourself up for success. Why let this time slip away when it can set the tone for a more productive day?

In this guide, you’ll learn practical ways to make the most of your commuting time by using it for daily and weekly planning. Whether you’re a train passenger, carpooling, or driving, it will help you set goals, prioritize tasks, and boost productivity.

Don’t just ride. Make every minute count. Start your day before you even arrive at your destination by reading the tips below.

Why planning during your commute is effective

Are you waiting for a train, stuck in traffic, or zoning out during the journey? Commuting can feel like a daily drain. The frustration from wasting time on the commute defines the mood of your day. Consequently, it leaves you unprepared and stressed before you begin with your first task.

But what if your commute could become the most productive part of your day? You could use this time for day planning and a mental reset to stay ahead of your goals.

The power of planning ahead

According to a study, 70% of commuters who do not plan are more than twice as likely to consider their travel time as wasted. On the contrary, 31% of commuters who plan find travel time worthwhile. This highlights how effective planning can turn your commute from idle minutes into meaningful time.

One effective way to reduce stress and manage your time is through pre-planning. You can aim for a more organized day by planning your day during your commute. This act of planning helps you set work-related or life priorities, ensuring you stay on track. That is the power of planning – you should embrace it every day to make life run more smoothly.

Pre-planning prevents the stress of last-minute decision-making. You minimize the chaos of your busy life and approach each day with clarity. Hence, the power of planning is not just about checking off tasks – it’s about creating mental space to thrive.

How commuting time creates a mental reset

Your commute from point A to point B is a unique opportunity to enjoy a role transition that helps clear mental clutter. It creates a space for you that is less associated with work and household roles, thus providing valuable “me time”. This time can be used for a mental reset conducive to day planning.

Instead of feeling rushed when you reach your workplace or commuting back home to a pile of housework, taking a few minutes to map out activities can shift your mindset. This can enhance your focus and productivity through goal-setting and an organized schedule.

Whether on a train, bus, or behind the wheel, this mental transition can be reframed as planning a daily schedule for productivity.

Techniques for planning your day during a commute

Utilizing planning techniques, such as brainstorming, task prioritization, digital tools, and avoiding distractions, can help you start your day on a positive note.

These techniques help you manage time and stress during the commute, leading to better focus. With the right actionable techniques, you can prepare mentally for daily tasks.

Here are some of the best methods:

Use voice notes and digital planners

You can use voice notes and digital planners with the proper context. Typing your plans is not an option for driving or traveling on foot, as you need your full attention to be safe.

But you can use your smartphone’s built-in recorder or various voice memo applications, such as Notta, Say&Go, or Smart Voice Recorder. They will help you record your ideas, create a to-do list, and set reminders.

If you commute by public transportation, use digital planners like Todoist, Any.do, Trello, or Notion.

They offer structured ways to organize and track your tasks for the day. Whether you’re tapping or speaking, these tools will help you turn your commute time into planning sessions for your personal and professional goals.

Avoid distractions while planning

Staying focused while using a phone or a planner can be challenging because of distractions, such as noises in public transport and unnecessary notifications.

But there are several ways to avoid distractions while planning your day during your commute. Minimizing distractions can create a more productive commute environment conducive to planning and learning.

Here are some things to consider:

Turn on ‘Do not disturb’ mode. Minimize distractions by switching your device to “Do not disturb” mode or turning off unnecessary notifications.
Cancel noise. The commute is often noisy. To stay focused, use noise-cancelling headphones when commuting a longer distance, which will allow you to block out surrounding noises.
Try voice-to-text tools. If you prefer hands-free planning, especially when driving, use voice-to-text tools (e.g., Dragon by Nuance, Gboard, or Letterly). It will help you to streamline your thoughts, ideas, and tasks into your planner with complete concentration.

Create a task hierarchy

When juggling work and personal responsibilities, having clarity about what needs your attention most can make a big difference to your day.

Not all tasks are equal, so you need to create a task hierarchy. Organizing tasks into manageable priorities will help you avoid feeling overwhelmed.

Use the Eisenhower Decision Matrix or Eisenhower Box, a tool to categorize tasks based on importance, named after Dwight D. Eisenhower. It’s designed to help you make informed decisions about allocating energy and time for work-life balance and to boost personal productivity.

Draw a four-quadrant grid by dividing a rectangular/square space into four equal sections. The vertical and horizontal axes will represent the task’s importance and urgency, respectively.

Then, assign a specific label to each quadrant, corresponding to different actions.

Quadrant 1: Important and urgent. Tasks requiring immediate attention and action (e.g., deadlines, crises). High-priority, as delays may result in consequences.
Quadrant 2: Important but not urgent. Tasks important for work-life balance and success (e.g., long-term planning). Schedule proactively to avoid future urgency.
Quadrant 3: Not important but urgent. Urgent tasks that do not align with long-term goals (e.g., requests from others, distractions). Delegate these tasks when possible to save energy and time.
Quadrant 4: Not important and not urgent. Tasks are neither important nor urgent (e.g., trivial activities). Avoid such tasks to maintain personal productivity and progress toward meaningful goals.

Use brainstorming and ideation techniques

In addition to planning and mental transition, why not turn your commuting time into a creative spark?

Whether stuck in traffic or sitting in a train, this time can become a space for brainstorming. Therefore, let your mind wander and fresh ideas flow. Use the moment to explore new possibilities.

Various approaches, such as freewriting, mind mapping, and idea listing, can help you develop new ideas and explore solutions. By implementing these techniques during your commute, you can create a space for new perspectives and problem-solving.

Learn more: Using Your Commute to Decompress and Boost Creativity

Idea listing

It is an effective ideation technique to generate ideas and thoughts without organizing them initially.

This method is practical when problem-solving, creative writing, or working on a project requiring a free flow of ideas. You can capture a variety of perspectives and concepts without worrying about order or structure, which can later be organized.

Listing ideas. List as many ideas as possible related to your challenge, a specific topic, or a goal.
Grouping ideas. Group them into categories or themes.
Selecting ideas. Highlight the most actionable and useful ones to follow up later.

Freewriting

Freewriting allows you to write your thoughts continuously and quickly without stressing about grammar, style, or form.

Whether you need to prepare for a project or overcome writer’s block, allow yourself to write freely to uncover new ideas that may not be possible through more structured writing techniques.

Set the timer. Set a 5 to 10-minute timer and pick an issue or a task you want to focus on.
Free flow of thoughts. For a specific time, write continuously and let your thoughts flow freely in the notebook. Do not worry if you make grammatical errors or your thoughts seem off-topic.
Review. Stop and review your insights or thought patterns when the timer ends.

Mind mapping

Do you experience difficulty planning projects, studying for exams, or solving day-to-day problems?

Mind mapping is a brainstorming and ideation technique that generates ideas through association. By visualizing connections between different ideas and organizing thoughts, you can resolve complex challenges throughout the day.

Central theme. Place the main idea/goal at the center of your page. Use arrows, lines, and branches to demonstrate the connection between your main goal and the range of ideas that stem from it.
Use color coding. Use different colors to symbolize different ideas. For instance, use blue for high-priority ideas or tasks, red for those that require research or follow-up, and black for general to-dos.
Leave room for growth. Leave some space in your mind map. It will allow you to add and adjust tasks as your day progresses, ensuring your planning stays adaptable.

Review and adjust your schedule

The bad news is that even carefully planned schedules can go off track.

Shifting priorities and unexpected meetings can derail your structured day. When you don’t review and adjust your schedule regularly, minor issues can escalate into major stress and lost productivity.

Therefore, before your hustle begins, review your calendar and realign it accordingly. Unlock your full potential and optimize the day ahead by using quick scheduling hacks during commute time:

Time blocking. Dedicate time blocks in the planner to divide your day. For the work duties, schedule 9-11 AM for high-priority and deep-focused tasks, 1-2 PM for admin tasks, and 3-5 PM for collaboration and meetings. For personal life, dedicate a time block of 6-7 AM for self-care (meditation or workout), 6-7 PM for errands and family, and 8-9 PM for restorative activities (like reading).
Batching similar tasks. Group or categorize functions like calls, emails, and small errands together. This keeps your flow and focus uninterrupted, which is often disrupted by task-switching fatigue.

In conclusion

Can your commuting time be more than just a lost time?Yes, it can be a valuable opportunity to plan your day. You often mindlessly scroll social media, zone out, or surrender to frustration when there’s traffic. But what if you can channel this time into a more productive part of your day?

Leverage the power of planning through the techniques above, and prepare mentally to start every morning with purpose. Make this guide your travel buddy to stay organized and boost your productivity in both personal and professional life.

Why wait? Take control of every minute spent on commuting and set yourself up for success. Don’t let another commute go to waste.

If you want to see more resources on productive commute, check out the Personal Productivity Science Labs. The lab uses the research of the Institute for Life Management Science to produce courses, certifications, podcasts, videos, and other tools. Visit the Personal Productivity Science Labs today.

Photo by Freepik

Amna Khalid